Technology for rapid detection of explosives and drugs in parcels

A harmless parcel or bomb containing? Does envelope contain drugs?The new scanning device uses terahertz technology to detect drugs and explosives in goods sent by post without opening suspicious parcels or mail envelopes.

From the commotion a year ago

A year ago, it was discovered a suspicious envelope addressed to German President Joachim Gauck. To ensure safety, a bomb disposal team was mobilized to destroy the parcel. The investigation later revealed that the envelope contained no explosives. This event caused confusion in the mail handling office in Berlin, because at that time there were no simple and safe measures to detect explosives or drugs in mail and packages. small package.

Experts are introducing T-COGNITION scanners

Through the case, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute of Metrology and Engineering (Germany) cooperated with Hubner GmbH & Co. KG in Kassel to provide a new solution: T-COGNITION , a scanner that uses terahertz technology to detect and identify objects inside suspicious parcels without opening them. One of the important reasons scientists choose to use terahertz waves is: non-ionized terahertz waves should be safe to use in unprotected environments (unlike X-rays).

Ideal solution with terahertz technology

Terahertz technology is still in its infancy, so it is rarely used. The material properties testing department at Kaiserslautern University, with funding from the Fraunhofer Institute, is hoping to change this situation. Dr. René Beigang of the Fraunhofer Institute said: 'Our goal is to scale up the use of terahertz technology and expand its presence in security applications.' Hubner's engineers were the first to recognize the potential of this research.

Hubner is a company specializing in the production of major components for the transport industry (such as trains, buses, airplanes, cars .). In 2006, the company added a public security department to seek cooperation partners. The mail and parcel scanner project started four years later, based on projects that have been developed before. And recently, T-COGNITION solution has been introduced to the market by the company.

The T-COGNITION scanner works in the following manner: Suspicious envelopes and envelopes will be inserted into the scanner on a tray. They will be scanned with terahertz waves. Terahertz waves are absorbed at different frequencies within the spectrum depending on the matter they pass through. The probes at the output of the scanner will record the wavelengths. 'Within a few seconds, T-COGNITION will compare the results obtained with the samples in the database'.

The system will alert if letters and parcels contain explosives, drugs or other prohibited goods. The system is capable of checking packages of size C4 and up to 2cm thick. Mr. Sprenger said: ' This is the ideal solution to check mail and parcels sent to prisons, through customs, government agencies, corporate headquarters, embassies . because it helps increase strengthen security and protect human life '.